~ADAM~

My limbs stretched automatically by themselves and I dropped the the brush in my hand carelessly on the table beside me, not caring if the paint will splitter or not. I was beyond tired and exhausted, I was drained, both mentally and physically and maybe a little bit emotionally because all the Artworks and designs we've been making for the school since the week started had kept me away from Kunmi. I couldn't even remember the last time we sat to talk together. That, coupled with the incessant headache of that girl... What was her name again?

"You should take a break, Adam."

Before nko? My subconscious replied immediately and I was up on my foot, walking towards the door when my phone started dinging with the notifications of new WhatsApp messages. I brought it out, mentally concluding that it was Sophia texting me to hurry up, because I was supposed to meet her in the Auditorium to discussy1 the details of the artwork she wanted me to make for her supposed special guest speaker only to see that they were messages from a totally new number.

I cussed underneath my breath before blocking the number without even reading the messages or viewing the pictures. I was this close to losing my shit. I already lost count of her numbers that I've blocked and yet, she just kept coming back, chatting me up with new numbers even though I wasn't replying. I could barely remember her but from her overly enthusiastic introduction, I distinctly remembered her from Aminah's party as the girl who had put her hands on me. I had immediately gotten pissed off at Aminah, concluding that she'd be the only person to give her my number. But then, I just ignored her until the messages got incessant and overbearing.

Then, she started sending pictures.

Obscene ones.

Not so subtle pictures of her cleavages.

I was more repulsed than annoyed.

I blocked her, immensely grateful for that option on WhatsApp until she chatted me up with another number, then another one and one day in a fit of rage, I had stormed up to Aminah, about to demand, rather than ask, the reason why she'd give someone my number without asking, not like I'd have given her the permission anyway but the sight of Aminah, standing all alone by the railings overlooking the love garden, her poise screaming dejected and a thousand other things that I couldn't decipher. I walked closer to her, momentarily forgetting the reason why I had came to seek her out in the first place because she looked so... so sad? Sad actually doesn't cut it but there was just something unAminahlike about her that day that made me so worried about her.

I was worried about her and that was a first considering the fact that I was even supposed to be angry at her for giving my number out.

I walked closer to her till I was standing beside her but she gave no inclination that someone was now standing very close to her, no inclination whatsoever. Infact, she could as well be alone in the whole block. I watched her for a minute, noticing her pale figure and how sunken her cheeks look and wondering what the fuck could be going on with her.

And where on earth was her boyfriend?

I noticed her eyes were fixed on a particular spot in the love garden. I followed her eyes to see her object of fascination only to look back at her, my brows raising in disbelief and shock.

Wow!

Sophia? Really?

I looked at Sophia who was so engrossed in the phone she was pressing her phone to the girl beside me who was still totally unaware that someone was beside her.

These two, I couldn't even start to thing of the kind of bizarre relationship that had going on. That is if there was really anything going on but then, things weren't really adding on.

I waved a hand in her front and that startled her out of her reverie. She turned to look at me and after the initial flash of surprise in her eyes, I expected her to feel uncomfortable that I had seen her the way but she just started smiling and her eyes that were so sad cleared up in a nanosecond.

Wow, just wow!

"Adam! How're you? Why are you here? You must be looking for Kunmi, she should be in the..."

"I wasn't looking for Kunmi." I interrupted her, cutting her words. I wasn't looking for Kunmi because I knew where to find her even though I had no idea how to act around her when a very annoying girl was making me feel like I was doing something bad.

"Then, why are you here?" She asked slowly, her eyebrows raising suspiciously at me and my eyes narrowed by themselves when I noticed she actually moved back a little.

Why does all that seem like she wasn't actually expecting me to talk to her without any valid reason? I frowned as I remembered that there hadn't been a time I'd actually talked to her if I wasn't about to ask her about Kunmi or Kunle.

I came here to ask her something else but looking at her now, seeing that glint of disbelief and suspicion in her eyes, I just wanted to ask her if she was okay.

"Ohhh," She said suddenly, jolting me out of my reverie, her eyes clearing and getting filled with light once again. "You must be here to ask of Kunle, he's at the basketball court."

I nodded slowly, my feet still glued to that one spot until I had to practically force them to move.

"Yes," I replied her even though I wasn't about to ask of Kunle. I started to walk away but not before nodding curtly at her and mouthing Thank You.

That was like a week ago.

From that time at the cafeteria till now, Sophia had retreated into her shell, it was just like the days after Stephanie's diagnosis, she was everywhere and yet nowhere. She threw herself right into the preparations for the literacy week, acting as if that was the thing taking her time when we both knew that to be a lie. And then, there was Kunle practicing as if his life depended on it and Aminah, going around the school, looking dead, as if something invisible was sucking life and energy out of her.

That trio, I gave up trying to understand them. It's basically impossible to even understand what was going on with them so why try?

I quickened my steps, crossing the distance between the Art studio to the hall in hasty strides because of the scorching sun and the waves and giggles of my female classmates and even juniors. They were all loitering around because it was a free lecture day and teachers were in a meeting. The seniors that were supposed to coordinate the juniors were causing more chaos than coordination.

I entered the main hall to meet the student in a different level of chaos. I did not even know why they were that plenty in the hall, the designs for the hall were all done, different Artworks reflecting teenagers' lifestyle adorned both sides of the halls and there were varying levels of themes depicting mental health awareness. There was really no need for this number of students to be in the hall again. Right in front of the hall, on the podium were a group of students making a heck of a noise that threatened to damage my eardrums. Someone was drumming and another one was singing one of wizkid's song in a tone that sounded totally off key and what's worst was even the fact that two junior girls were busy dancing and twerking right in front of them when they should all be in class. I started to walk towards them, ready to tell them off when I saw the boy that was drumming clearly.

It was the Head Boy.

I turned back because it was a lost case already.

Kunmi and Sophia were sitting at the other side of the hall, lost in their own little world, oblivious to the barbaric performance that was going on in the hall.

And Kunmi and Sophia's relationship? That's a story for another day.

I started walking towards them, barely hearing what they were saying. I was almost when Sophia turned back and winked at me before she stood up and she started to walk away.

Kunmi turned back to look at me and my heart really did a double flip when my eyes met hers. I was thinking, I thought by now, I was supposed to be used to this but my heart, along with all of my organs and senses acted on their volition when it came to her.

I was that into Kunmi Afolabi.

I crossed over to where she sat as Sophia walked further away from us, her right hand still raised in the air and turning sideways methodically as if in a wave.

Well, I trust Sophia to be extra in every single thing.

"You're done with your paintings?" She asked once I got to her and I stood in front of her, leaning against the back of one of the seats.

"No," I replied, refocusing. "I need the break and besides, I've missed you."

She smiled at that, heat creeping up to her cheeks, eyes looking away from me to her fingers which she was now wringing together. I could tell what those gestures were all about, she was a little bit thrilled and then, a little bit worried. But about what?

I looked around the the hall, it was still chaotic, the noises increasing by the minutes and that propelled me to move away from where I leaned against the chair with my hand reaching out to grab Kunmi's as if that's what it was made for.

"Let's get out of here."

The school area was even more jam packed than I had left it just minutes ago. They were more students loitering around, standing in groups of twos and threes, talking in loud whispers. The excitement oozing from them was too much and it took me just a split second to know the reason behind that. They were the SS3 students and today was literally their last day at Crescent High.

Of course, they had every reason to be that excited.

Kunmi let go of my hands immediately we got to the academic block and I concluded that it was definitely because of the school's policy even though I wasn't so sure about that.

We were almost at the block for the old studios when we ran into three guys, all seniors, their shirts were tucked out, sleeves rolled up, jackets draped over the shoulders. We sidestepped them, ready to walk away when one of them screamed:

"My Friend!"

We both turned back simultaneously and I instantly recognise the guy: Junior, popular for his extremely weird name: Senior Junior.

The guy grabbed Kunmi's left hand, turning her towards him right there in front of the old block and nothing but pure adoration in his eyes as he stared at her.

I looked at the duo, at Senior Junior's adoration filled eyes and Kunmi's totally bemused one, wondering how they even became this close.

"My friend! It's really you, looks like ages ago the last time I saw you. How have you been? I guess you ain't totally smitten by Crescent High now since you're now used to its total beauty."

"Yes." Kunmi replied, enunciating the word slowly and she tried to free her two hands from his two large ones but the Senior Junior only held on, tighter, as if it was impossible for them to have a conversation without him holding her hands.

Okayyyy.

I looked away from their hands to his face and he was just looking at her with something I'd describe as an open face, a face full of suppressed smile. He looked up at that moment and he dropped her hands immediately his eyes met mine.

"Sorry," He said straightening up. "I shouldn't be holding your hands like that when your boyfriend is watching."

I smiled. Did he just call me her boyfriend? He's forgiven already.

"I should go now and yeah, it was good to see you again after all these months."

He waved and nodded curtly before he jogged off to join his two friends who were already walking off. Kunmi stood there for a while, staring at his retreating back before she shook her head as if she was remembering something.

"You're close to him?"

"No ooo," Her reply was instantaneous. "It seems really long ago but he was one of the first people that made me feel welcome in this school, nah, he was actually the first."

Korede, where were you then? What were you doing then?

"Adam!"

I stopped, frowned and cussed underneath my breath before turning to the direction of the voice.

It was Mr Adiza. He was standing in front of the administrative block, arms crossed over his chest and looking at us.

"I did not mean you should take a break for an hour when I said you should take a break oo. We still need you in the Arts Studio."

"But sir..."

"I know you'd rather spend time with your girlfriend but the school needs you now."

Who school epp?

"Girlfriend, can you please us borrow your boyfriend for today, we'll return him in one piece tomorrow."

He clamped his hands together in a pleading manner while Kunmi just turned red. Mr Adiza self.

"Say no, I won't go if you don't want me to."

She looked at me as if I had grown two heads before she shook her head but her eyes betrayed that answer.

Same same, I thought to myself when I finally jogged off to join Uncle Adiza in the studio.

********
~KUNMI~

I was in the library, rummaging through the book shelves to find a perfect novel to read but I've read almost all the books on the selves. I was tempted to pick on earth, we're briefly gorgeous but the reviews about the book was shattering and I'd rather have my sanity intact. I wasn't Adam who'd read books like that. I took one final look at the rows of fictional books before I decided to turn back and return to class.

I turned back and before I could help it, I yelped and I instinctively move back because someone was leaning against the book shelf behind me, arms folded on their chest and eyes dark and unreadable and trained solely on me. I swallowed, heart beats accelerating in my chest and cold sweats threatening to form on my forehead.

It was Rahmon.

I hissed underneath my breath and I started to walk away at the same time he started to walk towards me, more like stalk towards me in a sort of predatory manner that made me instinctively move back.

He just kept moving towards me, a shrewd look crossing his face as he looked at me over and over till my back meet the shelf and I had nowhere to walk too. He stopped directly in front of me, his lips turning up in a devious smirk that nauseated me to the core. Then he started raising his hand as if to touch me and I shrunk, pressing my back even further into the shelf but he only picked a book from the shelf I was leaning against before walking away while laughing to himself, almost maniacally.

I nearly collapsed unto my knees and I had to grip the edge of a shelf to hold on.

My chest was still heaving heavily when I stepped out of the library and cold sweat was breaking out on my forehead. The shrewd look he'd given me was creepy, too creepy and the way he raised his hand as if to touch me.

I couldn't even speak up, I just stood there, terrified to the core.

I couldn't even speak up.

The scorching sun and the heat it was emitting did nothing to calm me down. I should have stayed in the library, at the least the AC there was working to its full capacity but the thought of sitting there when he was in that same building nauseated me

I stood outside the library for a minute, thinking of where to go, Adam was busy in the Art Studio, Aminah had been in the dance studio since morning, dancing as if she was preparing for a dancing competition I had no idea of and Sophia, well, I wasn't even sure if she was in school or not.

I've always loved being alone, being myself but now, the prospect of being alone was just terrifying.

I was already walking towards the music studio before I realised where I was walking to. I stopped, dread climbing up to my throat and crippling it. I was about to turn back when my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure coming out of studio.

Aminah.

I thought she was supposed to be in the dance studio. She turned and started to walk towards the academic block. I was about to call her name when she bumped into Tolase and they started to walk towards our block together.

I ended up walking to the music studio, partly because my subconscious wanted me to and partly because I was curious about why Aminah was there. She wasn't even doing music.

I entered the studio and the immense feeling of nostalgia filled me up that it was almost choking. It was different being in the studio with others, with others, I could pretend I was fine, I could keep the memories at bay, I could suppress the memories but alone in the studio like this, I had no control of who and what to remember.

You guys are both prodigies, can't wait for the world to discover you.

Bestie, what if you become the next Ariana? You have the voice.

Lies though, because even then, I knew it'd never end up like that. And that was even before I walked into her lying in the pool of her blood.

I turned towards where the piano was and without meaning to, I stalked towards where it was and my body acted out of its own volition when my hand reached out and pressed a C key.

The sound it made echoed through the entire length of the studio.

The intense feeling of nostalgia almost made me trip and fall.

It seemed like the sound jolted something else into reality because I suddenly heard a strange movement behind the piano, like someone was trying to lie down properly or stand firmly. I couldn't tell. I looked around, fingers trembling because I was convinced that I was alone but apparently, I wasn't.

I started to move to the other side of the piano, eyes still searching for who the intruder could be.

I saw it.

A him.

I saw a leg first, outstretched, the other raised to his chin, his right hand hanging loosely from it. The person was sitting with his back to the wall, head bent down, his left hand pressing against his lower abdomen. He seemed oblivious to everything, to the fact that someone was in Music studio with him. He was probably asleep but what kind of sleeping position was this?

He looked static, immobile, unmoving and staring at him like that, his dark curly hair, instant panic tugged at my guts because I already knew who it was and why was he lying there, like that? Unmoving, in the music studio for goodness sake?

"Alex!" I called out, my voice sounding hollow and shrill to my eyes.

"Alex!" I called out again, this time louder than earlier but the boy sitting down in front of me gave no inclination that he heard me, no inclination whatsoever that someone was someone was yelling right in front of him.

Jesus! What could be wrong with this guy?

"Alex!" I screamed now, shocking myself with the intensity my voice carried. I was sure that even though the studio was sound proved, students outside the studio must have heard my voice.

That seemed to do the trick because he started to raise his head up and relief washed over me, my shoulders slumping and a relief breath escaping my lungs.

God! But what kind of stupid sleep was that?

He raised his head up slowly, eyes vacant, blank and unfocused. He was looking at me as if he couldn't see me, as if I was just thin air and he could see through me. It unnerved me, seeing his eyes like that, too unfocused, the white more visible than the black, his eyes almost rolled back into their sockets.

It wasn't normal.

He wasn't normal!

He was blinking repeatedly, as if trying to focus but failing miserably. In the end, he gave up, his head falling back to its initial position but not before I could miss the ghost of a smile that tugged at his lips.

I stood there, transfixed, still coming into terms with the Alex I was looking at when he stood, nah, he staggered up, his legs shaking as if he was going to fall down any minute from now.

"Don't come here looking at the instruments here with eyes full of nostalgia as if the universe had snatched something important away from you. Trust me, you don't even know what that feels like."

He said in one breath, his words rushed and harsh before he staggered to the recording studio.

I staggered back, kept staggering back until my back hit the door, until my hand turned the knob and I stepped out. It was only when I breathed in the calm air and I saw the students milling around that I sort of returned to normalcy.

The Alex I saw just now and the Alex I was used to, the one with the weird talks and gestures were two totally different people. I'd give anything not to see him the way I just saw him.

But I already saw him and I couldn't unsee him no matter how hard I try.

Feeling more disoriented than when I left the libarary, I started walking towards the academic block. That was where I should have gone in the first place and I'd have saved myself the trauma of seeing Alex that way.

"Hey hey, baby Kay, calm down, why do you look like you're running away from the devil?"

I stopped suddenly and I missed bumping into Sophia and Gab by an inch. Sophia was looking at me with a worried expression, her right brow arched up perfectly and Gab looked bemused, probably because her cousin wasn't giving up on calling me baby Kay.

"Are you okay? You look hella scared."

"No... I mean... Yes, I'm fine."

She doesn't look convinced, obviously with the way her right brow arched up even more and when she was about to say something, her cousin beat her to it.

"You're coming from the music studio, right? Is Alex there? I've been looking for him."

I paled even more before I regained my composure.

I was probably overthinking, it's probably nothing. Maybe he acted that way to freak me out. He wasn't king weirdo for nothing.

"Yes," I replied hastily and I did not miss the way Sophia's eyes narrowed, as if she could read my mind.

"Alright, oshey, Sophia, let's go."

"Go where?" The lather replied, "I'm not following you again now that my baby Kay is here."

"Pele oo," The former replied, the corners of her mouth twisting up as if in mock disgust before she walked off to the Music Studio, nah, she jogged off happily.

"Baby Kay, you were going to class, right? Let's go together."

And before I could even think to say anything, she had her hands wrapped around my elbow and she was dragging me towards the academic block.

She kept chattering excitedly about things I did not even understand and I just had to keep nodding like a lizard so that she'd think I was really understanding what she was saying. We were about to start climbing the stairs from behind and we almost tripped. We would have actually tripped if Sophia hadn't been holding on to my arm as if her life depended on it.

"Eeh! Are you blind or wh..."

The words died in Sophia's mouth when we saw who it was. It was Gab and she just breezed past us as if she did not know even know she bumped into someone.

"Oh wow, Alex must have done something again. He's the only one capable of getting emotions like that from Gab." Sophia said once Gab disappeared up the stairs and she pulled at my arm so we'd start climbing the stairs once again.

"Shouldn't you go after her? It seems like she's really angry."

"Go after Gab when she's like that and risk getting stabbed to death? No way, I still need my intestines intact."

Sophia ehn.

We got to the class to meet it scanty as usual. The class were in group of twos and threes, talking and making a hell of noise. Aminah was leaning against Kunle's desk, arms folded on her chest, they were talking and Aminah kept laughing and even giggling at intervals. I subconsciously glanced at Sophia but her whole attention was on her cousin who was busy packing textbooks from her locker into her bag and when she was done, she banged the lid and almost everyone in the classroom turned to her. When she walked out of the classroom again, Sophia still made no move to stop her or even talk to her.

*********

"What was Alex doing when you saw him in the studio?"

Sophia asked out of the blues. It was hours after we returned to the class and it was supposed to be a literature/Chemistry class but our Literature teacher wasn't around and Sophia, for reasons best known to her, decided to stay back instead of going for her own class. We were less than 10 in class because and everywhere was blissfully quiet until Sophia decided to ask that question.

Sophia was looking at me, eagerly waiting for me to answer. How do I even describe what he was doing?

Unfocused eyes, blurred words, a ghost of smile and, he was tipsy again. He was just really out of it then.

"You don't have to reply, your eyes already said it all."

Okay.

"Is he..." I trailed off, tried looking for better words to articulate what I wanted to say. "He's not..."

"Alex is really messed up, really really messed up, thousands of things are going on with him at home, coupled with the fact that he lost his voice and..."

"He lost his voice?" I asked incredulously, my voice higher than usual that even a few classmates turned to look at me.

"Of course, he lost his voice." She answered in her stern Sophia's voice, as if that was something I shouldn't have missed but I seriously had no idea. He lost his voice? I starting remembering him from that concert, his performance, how it seemed that the stage was made for him and he wasn't made for the stage and what? He lost his voice?

"He had big dreams and a very shiny future because of his voice and his music aspiration. He even got an international contract before the whole thing went down and he had to let go of his dreams."

Sophia's voice was sober, almost solemn and there was a faraway look in her eyes as if she was remembering something. I was still trying to wrap my head around what she just said, he lost his voice? So he is not capable of singing again? Was losing one's voice something that just happen like that?
It must have to do with why he played muteness at the beginning, why he kept to himself, why, even till now, he still distance himself from everyone but then, what could have happened?

"Oh, it was something as simple as a throat infection." Sophia answered and it was only then, I knew that I had voiced out my thought again. "Or at least, it started as a simple throat infection till it got bigger than that. Maybe that's why it even hurt that much for him, knowing this thing started with something that could have been easily cured and he ignored it till it cost him his favourite thing."

Wow, just wow.

"I don't even know half of it but Alex is just... He's really messed up and as if all that wasn't enough, he still had to deal with..."

She trailed off, exhaled deeply before she stood up and she patted me on my right shoulder.

"Some things are better left unknown, kiddo."

I blinked. What? Which kiddo?

"Bye bye, I have to go for chemistry now."

She made a crying face before she started to walk out and I shook my head.

Typical of Sophia to go to a class when it was just 15 minutes to the end of the class.

And what was that whole thing with Alex?

Alex 😢😢😢😪😪😞😞😞 And there's so much we won't know about him in this book. I love his fandom, you guys should just keep showing him love and light and keep shipping him with whoever you want 😎😎♥️

I saw all the ship names for Sophia and Kunmi and I love them all especially Sunmi and Sophunmi ♥️♥️ but please, Kay, what exactly is Soku? 😂😂😂😂💔💔💔

Don't kill Bola yet, at least, wait till the next chapter, hmm? And yes, our mental health awareness campaign is coming up in the next chapter 💃💃😎

See you guys soon, hopefully ♥️♥️♥️